Boot Power Ratings™

Jeff Fawcett

01/30/2008

Home conference losses are killers, double dishes of disaster result in Dead Ducks and Dying Devils. Oski almost ready for his future on the cabin floor. All this and more in this week's Boot Power Ratings™.

Pac-10
BootPowerRatings™As of 1/30/08

Below are our exclusive
BootPowerRatings™ of the Pac-10 conference. Each week
during the basketball season, we will release our secret-formula
rating of all teams of the Pac-10. The BootPowerRating™
(BPR) is calculated by utilizing a wide range of factors rumored to
include: past results, statistics, common-opponent comparative
results factor, strength-of-schedule, home-venue environment,
cheerleader attitude and an unrevealed school spirit multiplier.
The resulting rating score falls within a 1-100 scale, where 100
approximates a championship-bound team and a score of 1 is
somewhere south of D-1.

1.
UCLA (6-1)[BPR=92]

Short-handed win at Oregon was impressive, 2nd half blowout at OSU expected. But no BPR increase because Ben Ball is aesthetically displeasing. They grab, they bang, they set nothing BUT moving picks. Does John Wooden really watch every game, or is it possible he's actually napping? They are nails from the foul line, though. That and rebounding can win a lot of games. Arizonas come to town.[Bruin Report Online]

2.
Washington St. (5-2)[BPR=87]

Crushed at Arizona, but survive not scoring in the final three minutes to top ASU by a point. Cougs #9 national ranking looks very shaky, but in their defense they have some how played only two home games. Obviously favorable schedule the rest of the way makes them a good bet to stay in the top three, but lack of athleticism starting to show.[Cougfan.com]

3.
Stanford (5-2)[BPR=83]

Struggling on offense? Take two halves of weenie defense and call me in the morning. The Cardinal exceed their conference high point output by a whopping 15 points, including a 51 point 2nd half, and send da Bears to their rightful 9th place. Robin Lopez shows Ryan Anderson how men play defense, Brook Lopez shows DeVon Hardin how NBA guys play offense (23 points, 19 minutes). Biggest test of the season up next - in recent years Stanford has done about as well in Washington State as GWB has done in Washington D.C.[TheBootleg.com]

4.
Arizona (4-3)[BPR=81]

Last week's "dangerous opponent going forward" jumps up in the ratings. Cats take care of business at home as they handle UW and WSU with surprising ease. 25-43 from beyond the arc in the 2 wins, is the rim down in Tucson regulation size? Toughest roadie of the year on deck as they head to El Lay. Can the Budinger & Bayless dynamic duo go for 20+ each for the 4th consecutive game? While just tied for 4th in the Pac-10 with two other teams, the nation's toughest strength of schedule has them 6th in the RPI.[WildcatInsider.com]

5.
USC (4-3)[BPR=80]

Don't look now, but the one-time 0-3 Troy Boys have won 4 straight. What should concern the competition even more is that the last three were all on the road. Entire starting five now averaging double digits, so let's hope Carmelo gets tickets for the whole mob. Currently trying for an impressive double, leading the Pac in both FG% and opponents' FG%. This week's Mayo vs. Bayless frosh showdown could be a classic.[SCPlaybook]

6.
Arizona St. (4-3)[BPR=76]

Some teams slide out of the top 25, others fall like a WKRP turkey drop. Swept at home, including a heartbreaking one-pointer to WSU in which James Harden missed a jumper at the buzzer. After three straight Ls where do you NOT want to go? Yep, Satans leave the Super Bowl madness for an even less relaxing weekend in Los Angeles. At least coach Sendek doesn't have any hair to lose. [DevilsDigest.com]

7.
Oregon (3-5)[BPR=75]

Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. Obnoxious home crowd, undeserving of such hot cheerleaders, shows Kevin anti-Love on his first visit to home state. Bad move getting the big guy mad, he dominates in the win. Ernie's quack squad has a miracle finish to send USC game to OT, but they drop that one, too. Four straight losses is sure to end with OSU staggering into town. Today's public service to red blooded male readers: http://cheer.uoregon.edu/squad.html[eDuck]

8.
Washington (3-4)[BPR=73]

Road split in the desert keeps Huskies in the postseason hunt. Awful perimeter defense exposed by hot shooting Arizona, but beastly Brockman probably kept Jeff Pendergraph in school for another year by abusing him and ASU. But let's see what he does against less wussified players – here come Los Lopez. 58.5% as a team from the line in conference games.[Dawgman.com]

9.
California (2-5)[BPR=71]

When is 2-5 even worse than it sounds? When a team has still only played two road games and one of those was OSU. Given their home results, maybe this week's trip up north is just what the Braunettes need. An astounding 21 offensive boards allowed to the beloved Cardinal. Kinder and gentler is fine for the nation, not so much for the hardwood. Key stat: Bears are 2-0 when Ryan Anderson scores 15-17 points.[The Bear Insider]

10.
Oregon St. (0-8)[BPR=31]

Down two at the half to USC, the rodents end up losing by 24. Down four at the half to UCLA, the vermin lose by 23. Given the effectiveness of his halftime speeches, interim coach Kevin Mouton shall hereby be known as "Bizarro Rockne." Guaranteed to have their best week of the season this week. If you surmised "they must only have one game," buy yourself a frosty beverage!

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